Hopper construction



y 2 1(939- A. E. w. JOHNSON :1- AL 2,159,659

HOPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1939 1 UNITED STATES 2,159,659 norrnn- CONSTRUCTION Arnold E. W. Johnson, Chicago, Ill., and George M. Kriegbaum, ,Richmond, Ind., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 28, 1936, .Serial No. 1085002 12.0laims.

This invention 7 relates to improvements in grain drill hopper constructions and more particularly to an extension hopper for the-usualsgrain drill hopper. i i

The main object of the invention isto provide increased storage capacity for grain drill hoppers.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an extension hopper construction which may be readily attached to the usual graindrill lo lhopper and also to provide means whereby the p extension hopper-may be collapsed when not in use.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects and other minor objects, one specific hopper con- {2 struction will hereinafter be described and the invention then defined in the claims. The preferred forms andthe improved structure are i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure l is a perspective view showing a grain drill hopper with the extension hopper in place;

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the extension hopper in position; i

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to that in Figure 2 with the extension hopper collapsed;

.IFigure 4 is a perspective View of a portion of the grain drill hopper and extension hopper with the extension. hopper in its collapsed position showing the position taken by-the center support for the grain drill hopper covers; Figure 5 is a section along lines 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows showing a :portion of the center support for the grain drill covers;

Figure 6 is a section along line 66 of'Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows showing themeans for attaching the ends of the cxtenm sion hopper to the grain drill cover; 1

Figure 7 is a section on line 1'l of Figure 1 looking in the directon of the arrows showing the hinge construction for the grain drill cover;

Figure 8 is a section alongline 88 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the means for holding the extension hopper side in place; and, I I

. Figure 9 is a section alongline 9- 9 of Figure '2 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the means for supporting the extension hopper end on the grain drill hopper end.

It will be understood that, ina grain drill or other machine toxwhich the extension hopper is tobe attached, the grain drill hopper proper is of awell-known steel hopper construction. .It has been .found that in large fields the usual steel grain hoppers have not suflicient capacity to enyable the operator tosow a complete strip across the fieldand it has been necessary to have platforms or to carry bags of grain to be sown thrown across the top of the grain drill hopper in order that the operator can complete the strip across the field by adding the additional seedsupply. Itis, "therefore, the purpose of the invention to provide an extension hopper wherein grain may be placed to give additional storagecapacity and at the same-time to provide supports for carrying the grainbags, if it is desired, or for placing additional sacks of grainon topof thegrain already stored in the extension :hopper.

In accomplishing these objects a'grain drill hopper I5 is supported in the usual manner bya support l6 attached to a grain drill frame I 1. Thegrain drill hopper I5, as best shown in Figures 4, '7, and 8, has the upper ends of the hopper extending inwardly to provide a narrowed opening l8 which is=covered by steel covers 19 and 20. In large grain drills such as the one to be described the cover 'for the hopper is usually divided as in this instance bythe covers l9 and 20.

In Figure '7 the cover 19 is shownhinged to a rolled bead 21 of the hopper extending *alongthe opening {18; A hinge for the cover I9 is formed by a strap 22 bent at its lower end and shaped to conform to the shape of the bead 2|. As the cover is'lowered to close the opening l8 the-hinge strap 22extends through an opening23. Each cover I9 and 20 is provided with a plurality of these hinges formed as described above. In the usual grain drill hopper construction the covers 19 and 20 are hinged at the forward side of the grain drill hopper so that they maybe opened with the covers extending upwardly and forward ly in order that the grain may be poured in; from the rear of the grain drill. 4 and 8, the rear edge of the opening I8 of the grain drill hopper l5 has a rolled edge or bead construction 24 similar to the rolled edge 2L. The cover l9 or 20 has at its rear edge a rolled edge or head 25 which in the closed position of the cover extends over the rolled edge 24 to close the hopper.

An extension hopper 26 which is about to be described is readily attached to the grain drill hopper l5 and at the same time when not in use, the extension hopper may be collapsed and folded down. The extension hopper 26 is formed to engage the opening [8 of the grain drill hopper IS. The extension hopper 26 is'io-rmed from a plurality of separable parts which may be readily attached to and detached from each other and comprise a side member 21, end members 28 and 29, anda center supporting member 30 for the grain drill covers l9 and 29, as best shown in Figure 1. In the open position of the extension hopper, the rear side member 21 extendstransversely the length of the hopper opening l8 and is supported in an upwardly and rearwardly extending position by a plurality of braces 3| which provide detachable means for bracing the side wall member of the extension hopper. The braces 3| are pivotally secured at their upper ends to a transversely extending member 32 secured to the extension hopper side 21 at its upper end. The brace member 32 acts to stiffen the side member 21. Each of the braces 3| is pivotally mounted to the transverse member 32 by having a rolled portion 3| extending through a slot 32' in the brace member. The braces at their lower ends are detachably secured to the grain drill hopper I by having slotted ends 33 which engage a bolt'or other securing member 34. The side member 21 of the extension hopper is so formed as to em gage the bead 24 of the hopper opening |8 to provide a grain tight seal and means for pivotally connecting the side Wall member of the extension hopper to the hopper of the dispensing device. As best shown in Figure 8, in order to latch the extension side member 2! in its lowered position, a hinge member 35 is bolted or otherwise secured to the side member 21 and has at its lower end, when in raised position, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, a hook portion 36. The hook portion 36 acts as means to retain the side member 21 in its lowered position from becoming detached from 'the grain hopper I5. The portion 3'9 is curved to conform to the bead 24 of the rear edge of the grain hopper l5.

Each end of the extension hopper side member 21 has a plurality of rolled portions 38 which form, with roller portions 39, 49, and 4| of the extension hopper members 28 and 29, a. hinge construction 42 providing detachable means for pivotally connecting the side member 21 with the end members 29 and 29. The rolled edges 38, 39, 49, and are so formed that a detachable pintle or pin 43 may be passed through the bead to secure the end and side members together.

The end members 28 and 29, asbest shown in Figures 1, 2,'and 9, are supported on each end' 44 of the grain drill hopper I5 by an outwardly and downwardly extending angular shaped portion 45 which engages an inturned edge 46 of the hopper end 44, as best shown in Figure 9. The supporting portion 45 providing means for mounting the end wall members on the hopper of the dispensing device extends the width of the hopper opening I8 and is formed at its ends to conform to the upper portion of the hopper l5, The front end of the extension ends 28 and 29, as best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6, has a corner member 41 forming a sliding connection with the covers l9 and 29 of the grain drill hopper. The member 41 providing detachable means for connecting the end wall members to the lid of the hoppers, at itsfront side, as shown in Figures 1 and 6 has an inwardly extending portion 48 engaging the top side of the cover |9 or 29. As each corner construction 41 is similar but of opposite hands for the respective ends 28 and 29, only one will be described and like reference characters will denote similar parts. The member 41 is so shaped as to form a slot or slide 49 with respect to the end member. and with the cover l9. The member 48 is spaced away from the end member 29 to form a slot to engage the cover I9 and the member 41 is also formed and spaced away from the end 29 laterally to form a slot for a down-turned edge 59 of the cover I9. The member 41' is bolted or otherwise secured to the outer side of the end members 28 and 29 and this corner construction forms a grain tight construction. The members 28 and 29 are attached to the covers l9 and 29 by sliding each end member downwardly at the ends of the cover and when they are in their lowered position engage the hopper ends 44, as was previously described, the outwardly and downwardly extending portion 45 engaging the in-turned edge 45 of the hopper ends 44.

To provide a support for the inner ends of the covers" I9 and 29 and also a grain tight joint, the center supporting member 39 of the extension hopper is formed, as best shown in Figures 1 and 5. The forward end of the center supporting member 39 forming means connected to the lids 9 and 29 and to the side wall member 21 for bracing the extension hopper is cut at a diagonal and corresponds to the diagonal portion of the end members 28 and 29 at their front ends. Welded or otherwise secured is a supporting member 5| to the center supporting member 39 to engage the cover 29 and at the same time to provide means for forming a grain tight joint. Thecenter supporting member 39 has its front end 52 bent at right angles forming a support for and means for forming a grain tight construction with the cover l9. An in-turned edge 53 of the cover l9 abuts with the center supporting member 39, as best shown in Figure 5. Similarly, the member 5| is bent at its front edge at right angles as at 54 forming a support for and a grain tight construction with the cover 29. The cover 29 also has an inwardly extending portion 53 in abutting relationship with the member 5|. 'It is, therefore, obvious with the construction described in Figure 1 and Figure 5 that a support is formed for the covers I9 and 29 so that the covers I9 and 29 may form the front side of the extension hopper 26.

The center supporting member 39 is mounted on the side member 21 in a manner similar to the mounting of the ends 28 and 29 to the side member 21. A plurality of beaded members 55 are welded or otherwise secured to the extension hopper side member 2'I. Beaded members 59, 51, and 58 similar to the beaded members 39, 49, and 4| are formed on the center supporting member 39 in order that, when they are secured together by a pin or pintle 59, as best shown in Figures 1 and 4, a hinge construction is formed. It is, therefore, obvious that the center supportting member 39, as it is firmly secured to the side member 21, forms a rigid support for the extension hopper 26 and acts to support the covers l9 and 29' so that they form the front side of the extension hopper 25. The upper edges of the extension hopper 26 such as the edges of the side members 28 and 29 are rolled as at 69 and the front side member 21 is rolled as at 5| to form a bead similar to the rolled bead 25 on the covers l9 and 29, thereby preventing sharp edges so that the operator will not be hurt.

It is, therefore, obvious that, when the extension hopper is assembled, as shown in Figure l. a grain tight hopper construction is formed wherein additional storage capacity is obtained for the usual grain tight hopper of the grain drill. It is also obvious that this construction may be supplied to other bins or hoppers where additional capacity is required. In addition, the extension hopper, which has just been dehopper is shown in its knockedwdown position.

whennot in use. To detach the extension hopper and to position itin its knock-down position, the pins are removed from the :hinge members 42 of the side member 21 and the end members 28 and 29. The pins 43 of each end member 28 and 29 are, then,positioned, as shown in Figure 3 in the beaded portion $0. In this position thepins 43 will not be lost. Next the centersupporting member 30 isdetachediby removing the pin 59' forming a portion of the detachable means connecting the bracing-means 30 with the side wall member. The covers [9 and are now freeto be dropped downwardly. 'NextLthe brace members 3| may be detached :from their supports 34 by removing the side member 21 upwardly. As the members "31 swing rearwardly the side member 21' is now iree to be dropped in its position, as shown in Figure-'3 with the member "31 hanging in the position shown. center supporting member which was removed by removing the pintle 59 is, therefore, braced in the position, as shown in Figure 4 with the pin '59, as shown. In this mannerthe member 311 is secured tothe side member 21 and may not be lost in transport. As the side member 21 is dropped downwardly in the position shown in Figures 4 and 8, the hinge connections 36 prevent the side member -21from being detached fromthe upper end of thehopper, as the hinge members 36 engage the beaded portion of the hopper. The covers l9 and 20 are, therefore, free to be let down covering the hopper opening and forming the usual closure for the grain drill hopper l5. In assembling the extension hopper to the position shown in Figure 1 the procedure just described is reversed.

It will be evident that there has been provided a knock-down extension hopper for a grain drill or other dispensing device which may be readily connected to and disconnected from the usual grain hopper of the grain drill. It is also evident that the extension hopper may be either used in its assembled position or transported in its knocked down position, when it is not needed, without in any manner interfering with the usual operation of the grain drill.

The preferred embodiment of the invention herein described is capable of certain modifications without departure from the scope of the invention to be defined in the following claims.-

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a hopper of a dispensing device having a plurality of lids, and end and side wall members, of an extension hopper, said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, one of the side wall members a of the extension hopper comprising the lids of the hopper in raised position, and means for connecting the lids together forming a tight joint.

2. The combination with a hopper of adispensing device having a plurality of lids, and end and sidewall members, of an extension hopper, said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, one of the side wall members of the extension hopper comprising the lids of the hopper in raised position, means for connecting the end wall members of the extension hopper to, the lids of the hopper, means for supporting the iextension fhopper .on the aforesaid hopper, meanconnected to:the;lids and to the side wall member of the extension hopperfor bracing the extension vhopperyand means on the last mentioned-means for forming a'tight joint between the :lids' and said :bracing means.

3. The .combinationwith a hopper of a dispensing device having a pivoted slid adapted to extend across .the'entireuwidth of an opening in the device, and end and side wall members, ofi anextension hopper, said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, one of the side wall members of the extension hopper comprising the lid .of the hopper in raised position, means for detachably connecting the end wall members of the extension hopper to the lid of the hopper, means for pivotably connecting the side wall member of the extension hopper opposite the lido-f the hopper to the hopper, means for detachablyconnecting the end wall members of the extension hopper to the last mentioned side wall member of the extension hopper, and means detachably connected to the lid and to the last-mentioned side wall member for bracing the extension hopper.

4. The combination with a hopper of a dispensing device having a lid and end and side wall members, of anextension hopper, said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, each of the aforesaid end wall members of the extension hopper comprising means for mounting the .end wall member on the end wall of the hopper, means for detachably connecting the end wallrmember to the lid of the hopper, and means for detachably connecting the end wall member totthe-side 'wallmember of the extension hopper opposite the lid of the hopper; whereby tight joints are formed between the extension hopper and the dispensing hopper and the end wall members and the side wall members of the extension hopper, each of the aforesaid end members of the extension hopper having a rolled edge at its upper edge and means for securing the end and side wall members of the extension hopper together comprising an elongated pin member; whereby, when said pin member is detached to collapse the extension hopper, the pin member is adapted to be received by the rolled edge of the end member.

5. The combination with a hopper of a dispensing device having a lid adapted to extend across the entire width of an opening in the device, and end and side wall members, of an extension hopper, said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, one of the aforesaid side wall members of the extension hopper comprising means for pivotably mounting the side wall member on the dispensing hopper opposite the lid of said hopper, and means for detachably connecting the end wall members to said side wall member of the extension hopper; whereby tight joints are formed between the side wall member and the dispensing hopper and the side and end wall members of the extension hopper.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, detachable means for bracing the side wall member of the extension hopper opposite the lid connected. to the side wall member of the extension hopper and to the dispensing hopper; whereby, in one position of the detachable means, the side wallmember of the extension hopper is braced and in the detached position of the aforesaid means, the side wall member may be collapsed with respect to the dispensing hopper.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 5,

means detachably connected to the lid and to the side wall member of the extension hopper for bracing the extension hopper.

8. The combination with a hopper of a dispensing device having a plurality of lids, and end and side wall members, of an extension hopper, said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, one of the aforesaid side wall members of the extension hopper comprising means for pivotally mounting the side wall member on the dispensing hopper opposite the lid of said hopper, means for detachably connecting the end wall members to said side wall member of the extension hopper, means detachably connected to the lids and to the side wall member of the ex- 7 tension hopper for bracing the extension hopper and forming a tight joint between the lids in th extended position of the hopper.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8,

detachable means connecting the aforesaid bracing means between the lids and the side wall member of the extension; whereby, in the collapsed position of the extension hopper, the

aforesaid bracing means is mounted on the side member of the extension hopper.

10. The combination with a hopper of a dispensing device having a lid,'and end and side wall members, of an extension hopper, said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members,

each of the aforesaid end wall members of the extension hopper comprising means for mounting said end wall members of the extension hopper on the lid of the dispensing device; whereby,

when said lid of the dispensing hopper is in its closed position, the end Wall members of the extension hopper are positioned adjacent the end wall members of the dispensing hopper.

11. The combination with a hopper of a dispensing device having a lid and end and side wall members, of a collapsible extension hopper,

' said extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, and means for detachably mounting said side'and end wall members of said extension hopper on said dispensing hopper; whereby, when said extension hopper is collapsed, a side wall member of the extension hopper is mounted on a side wall member of the dispensing hopper, the lid of the dispensing hopper overlies a portion of said side wall member of the extension hopper, and the end walls of the extension hopper are mounted on the lid adjacent the end walls of the dispensing hopper.

12. The combination with a hopper of a dispensing device having a plurality of lids and end and side wall members, of a collapsible extension hopper comprising end and side wall members, detachable means for bracing the side wall members of the collapsible extension hopper in its extended position, one of the side wall members of the extension hopper in its extended position being the lids of the dispensing device, and means for detachably mounting said side and end wall members of said extension hopper on said dispensing hopper; whereby, when said extension hopper is collapsed, the detachable means for bracing the side wall members of the collapsible extension hopper overlies the side wall member of the extension hopper opposite the lids of the dispensing device.

ARNOLD E. W. JOHNSON. GEORGE M. KRIEGBAUM. 

